"Manton definitely asserts, 'The devils also believe; that is, assent to this truth and other truths revealed in the word.' Of course they do: They believe that Eve yielded to their temptation; no doubt they believe that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. But to suggest that they believe all other truths revealed in the Word goes beyond James' text, and contradicts other parts of Scripture.
Manton continues. 'Bare assent to the articles of religion doth not infer true faith.' Here the weasel word is 'bare.' Does he mean a mere nodding of the head? Probably not, for the devils' belief or assent is more than that. It is difficult to guess what Manton's psychology of 'bare' assent is. The truth that saving faith produces works does not advance the argument. To say that true or saving faith (since belief in a falsehood is true or genuine belief) produces works does not imply that faith is other than assent. Why should not assent produce works? It produced trembling. But if 'bare' assent is not identified with assent minus works, then Manton assigns no meaning to the word on which he so much depends." -Gordon H. Clark, What is Saving Faith?
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